Program keeps the music alive for kids

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Instructor Dominic Luciano, 17, helps the band keep in time during a practice session of the Medford Junior Jazz Ensemble at Tom's Guitar Warehouse in Medford.Mail Tribune / Jim Craven

February 08, 2010

By Paris Achen

Mail Tribune

On the day Ryan Wilson returned home from Medford’s McLoughlin Middle School to announce he had tried out and been accepted into the school’s 2009-2010 jazz ensemble, his mother had to break the news that the jazz program was to be cut before Ryan ever had a chance to participate in it.

“You can imagine how excited he was, and here it was in the paper that Jazz Ensemble would be one of the cuts,” said Ryan’s mother, Donna Wilson.

Jazz Ensemble was among the $9 million in Medford School District rollbacks for 2009-2010, necessitated by a state revenue shortfall.

That’s when Michael and Dominic Luciano stepped in.

Dominic, a 17-year-old musician who studies at Southern Oregon University and Rogue Community College, learned about the loss of Jazz Ensemble from his little brother, Demitri, who plays guitar.

“I’ve been in jazz since I went to North Medford High School,” Dominic said. “I thought it would be a good idea to keep the tradition going and keep the students’ skills going.”

Dominic and Michael Luciano decided to start an independent jazz ensemble program that would fill the vacuum left by budget cuts. Free except for about $15 in sheet music, the program would serve the Hedrick and McLoughlin students who otherwise would miss out on jazz instruction.

Dominic volunteered to teach the class for an hour three times a week, while his dad, Michael, scouted out a venue and devised ways to spread the word that the class would be available.

“I think it’s really nice of them,” said Kevin Gunter, a McLoughlin eighth-grader who plays baritone saxophone.

Michael approached his friend, Tom Hess, owner of Tom’s Guitar Warehouse on North Riverside in Medford, to see whether he would be willing to commit one of his back practice rooms for the class. Hess immediately volunteered the room without charge.

“I have to thank Tom,” Michael Luciano said. “He did a big thing.”

“They did all the work,” Hess replied. “I just provided the real estate.”

Hess also lent some equipment for the effort, including drums and music stands.
Michael Luciano created some flyers to send out to the middle schools. To maximize participation, Michael and Dominic Luciano decided to open up the advanced music program to both seventh-graders and eighth-graders.

Soon, 23 students had signed up for the program, which the Lucianos named the Medford Junior Jazz Ensemble.

“It’s just sort of for the fun of it and gives me something to do during my free time,” said Alex Herrmann, a McLoughlin seventh-grader.

The first class commenced in October. Dominic Luciano meets with the students for about an hour every other Monday and every Wednesday and Saturday. They practice three to four songs. Last Wednesday, the students started out with a practice run of “Thriller,” as Michael Luciano remarked on how much they’ve improved in the past four months.

“It’s just delightful to see young kids coming in on a Saturday morning to work on their music,” Hess said. “When I was their age, I would have been at home watching cartoons and eating cereal.”

The Lucianos’ program is one of a few community efforts that have sprouted since the budget cuts to help fill gaps in the school district’s music offerings. A teacher at St. Mary’s private Catholic school holds a chamber orchestra program before school for Jackson County students whose high schools have eliminated the specialized orchestra program.

On Feb. 18, the jazz ensemble will debut before the public in a joint concert with the Hedrick and McLoughlin intermediate and advanced bands at 6:30 p.m. at Hedrick Middle School, 1501 E. Jackson St. in Medford. The concert is open to the public, and there’s no cost for admission.

“This is all Dominic’s doing to put the time and the effort in to get the kids to where they are now,” Donna Wilson said. “He got them playing and furthering their skills.”

Reach reporter Paris Achen at 541-776-4459 or e-mail pachen@mailtribune.com.

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